GM ....Help

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

We just got back from a 900 mile round trip to see our grand-son in Charleston, SC . My wifes car a Buick Park Ave. with 3.8 started acting up alittle. Drove and ran  like a new one then the " Check Engine Light " would come on and it would start to miss alittle. I could pull over and turn off the key and the light would go out and start out again and everything would be as it should ....It did it three times in the 900 miles and as stated I could pull over turn off the car , restart and everything would be good again.... It only had a miss when the " Check Engine " light came on....Oil was changed before the trip and was perfect on the dip stick the entire trip.....Any ideas want I need to look at or replace ?

[tank_post142]

run it past autozone or advanced auto for a free computer check.

[R J]

Get it on a computer and read the code.

As a WAG, I'd say an oxygen sensor is trying to take a crap on ya.

[eric in md]

run it past autozone or advanced auto for a free computer check.

do that first ,,, joe  then go after the problem . report back
  hope ya had a good trip man

[Red Diamond]

Oxygen sensor or mass air flow sensor, good luck.

[f6john]

Get it on a computer and read the code.

As a WAG, I'd say an oxygen sensor is trying to take a crap on ya.

   +1 on the O2 sensor.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Much appreicated men 

[designer]

+1 on computer. It had to store the code.  That will tell the tell.

[fudgie]

Check the gas cap for looseness.  Run up to your O'riely's and have them code it for you.

[BradValk48237]

I had an 90 Olds Toronado with the 3800 in it and I had the same problem... ended up being the coil pack...was an easy fix, but I agree se if you can find out the code....

B

[simon]

I'm with bs48237 on this one. If the car is new enough to have "COP" coil over plug, one of them will cause the missing you are talking about and trip the engine light. Check that out. Simon

[gordonv]

Check Engine light is for emition codes. Things like the O2 sensor, already mentioned.

If the light is not always on, the codes are erased after a "number" of starts of the the car, so you need to get it to a "shop" that can check the codes for you, or buy your own code reader. If I remember right, it is either an OBD or an OBDII reader you want. They cost less than $80 now. Something simple like an O2 sensor, is just like a "spark" plug and easy to change.

[MacDragon]

+1 on the gas cap... If you don't give it a couple of clicks when replacng it after a fill, the sensor will detect not enough pressure in the tank.  
Also... If your engine light comes on solid (not blinking) it's telling you something is wrong and should be serviced.... If it comes on and is blinking ... You should probably pull over and shut her down.  You could potentially cause damage that will cost more.

My .02  

[scoot]

2 words.....Blinker Fluid

[R J]

2 words.....Blinker Fluid

Also, if they tell you that you still have winter air in the tires, just tell em NO that is nitrogen in them, if is year around stuff.   Oh, put a green cap on the valve stems 1st.

[Darren]

I had a Lumina with the 3.8 and had the same problem. It turned out it was the plug wires which the dealer said should last 100k. Changed out the wires and it never happened again.

[Patrick]

The Park Ave was built for a very long time with several versions of the 3.8 engine, so it makes a difference what year the vehicle was made and if its OBD1 or OBD2[ pre-97 or later].. Your problem can be caused by a bizillion different things so trying to obtain a trouble code is a good place to start.. But, as said, GM had a big fuel cap sealing issue.. The quickest easiest thing to do is clean the gas cap sealing surface and then make sure the cap is screwed in fully..

[Skinhead]

The gas cap leaking will turn on the CEL, but will not cause it to run poorly or miss.  A loose or bad plug wire will cause a misfire code P0300 (or P030X where X is the number of the misfiring cylinder).  You can guess all day, get the codes and we can get you pointed in the right direction.

[Monkey Boy]

With all these sensors and electrical computerized things on engines today I would go get it scanned.  Like many said it could be anything from a coil pack to an O2 sensor to a plug wire.  Good Luck and I am glad you didn't get stranded.

P.S. Kind of funny just last night my friend and I were talking and his 03 Buick LeSabre is doing the exact same thing.  He has the 3.8L in his car.  So if you find out what it is let me know so we can check it out on his car.

[Jess from VA]

I had similar symptoms in a dodge.  It was the cam position sensor.

[gordonv]

Depending upon what is causing the CEL to come on, the computer might switch into a safe/limp mode.

I dought if a gas cape would cause that, even a simple senser like an O2. Might be something that only shows after 100's of miles of hwy miles.

Don't waist any time till you get the codes off the car.

[bigdog99]

had a 92 regal with the same engine, drove home from CO and just before dark notice the lights flickering and rpm jumping around. turned out to be melted bearings in the alternator. poor out like liquid.
 

[scarylarry]

I had the mass air flow sensor go out on my 2000 lesabre...sounds exactly like what your wifes car is doing...computer scan it....but mafs sensor is my guess...about $120...very easy to install but need a security bit